Dimensions of alcoholism: a multivariate analysis.
The present study multivariately interrelated demographic and psychometric variables that have been extensively researched in the alcoholism literature. These variables included the essential-reactive continuum, degree of familial alcoholism, subjective distress, antisocial personality features and gender. Data were collected for 76 inpatients (56 male and 20 female) meeting DSM-III criteria for alcohol abuse/dependence. The mean age of the sample was 38.9 years and ranged in age from 18 to 69 years. Three factors with eigenvalues greater than 1 were extracted. Factor 1 was labeled Neuroticism, and measures of depression, anxiety, neuroticism and female gender had the highest loadings. Number of first-degree relatives with alcoholism, essential (early onset and greater severity) alcoholism and greater antisocial propensity had the highest loadings on Factor 2, labeled "Essential-Familial." The Extroversion scale of the Eysenck Personality Inventory and number of second-degree relatives with alcoholism loaded most highly on Factor 3, labeled "Extroversion." Theoretical and clinical implications associated with these dimensions of alcoholism and variously proposed alcoholic subtypes are discussed.
Brooner
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RK
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21224.
Templer
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D
Svikis
D S
DS
Schmidt
C
C
Monopolis
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S
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D010553:Personality Development; D010556:Personality Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors